Week 2: Day 13 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

 Monday, June 12

Since I had no pain medication at all yesterday, I didn't sleep very well, and I woke up in some pain. I took Celebrex and two Tylenol, in the morning. My morning exercises were difficult, but I did them. Instead of walking on the TM, I walked in the neighborhood. It was very difficult, but I got it done.

PT was fine. I was able to go backward for one complete rotation on the bike for the first time. It definitely hurt, but I did it. I am nowhere near a rotation going forward.

I walked a mile in the evening, and actually, it felt a little better than the one in the morning.

Week 2: Day 12 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

 Sunday, 6/11/2023

Today is my anniversary! I haven't taken any medication at all including ibuprofen or Tylenol, so that I can toast with champagne this evening.

I did all of my morning exercises and increases my TM walk to .75. I also walked outside a mile. It was the first time without a walker. It was on uneven ground, too.

Week 2: Day 11 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

 Saturday, 6/10/2023

I woke up in minimal pain. I divided my morning PT into two segments: before breakfast and after breakfast.

Before breakfast:

• 5 minute bike warm-up
• Sidelying Hip Abduction
• Sidelying Hip Adduction
• Clamshells
• Sit-to-stand
• Seated Hamstring Set
• Calf Stretch Using ProStretch
• Weighted Toe Raise
• Seated Straight Leg Raise

After breakfast:

• Weighted Toe Raise
• Seated Straight Leg Raise
• 3 minute Bike Warm-up
• Supine Heel Slide
• 15 minute Walk on TM
• Seated Knee Extension with Chair
• Supine Hamstring Strech w/ Idealstrap
• 5 min Backward Walk on TM
• Elevated Icing with E-Stimulation

After session1, I went straight to bed. I slept a couple of hours and basically did a rinse repeat, session 2, then another nap.

My second session consisted of:

• Calf Stretch Using ProStretch
• Weighted Toe Raise
• Supine Active Straight Leg Raise
• 5 minute TM warm-up
• Supine Heel Slide
• 20 minute Walk on TM
• Seated Knee Extension with Chair
• Supine Hamstring Strech w/ Idealstrap
• 5 min Backward Walk on TM
• Elevated Icing with E-Stimulation

Finally, I went for a 1 mile walk in the park. It took about 35 minutes. That was my longest walk to date.

I did not take any hard core pain medication today, but I was in a lot of pain. I took Celebrex when I woke up in the morning and two Tylenol. Before I went to bed, I took the same.

Week 2: Day 10 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

 Friday, June 9, 2023

I opened my eyes and jumped right into morning exercises. It took forever for me to get through them. I actually stopped and had breakfast in between, and then finished up. I was moving like a snail.

In the afternoon, I went to the park to walk again. I think I really have a hand on some self talk to get me walking more naturally. "Toe off, bend-pain, heel." this means push off to my very tip toe. Then bend my knee until I feel pain,. Finally, plant the heel. I think my walking is looking pretty good, but it takes complete concentration.

 

 PT went well. I got a some normal hip stuff to add, like clam shells. After PT, my whole leg was throbbing. I decided to take something. I've got my fingers crossed that I won't regret it.

Week 2: Day 9 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

 Thursday 6/9/2023

I woke up at about 3AM in a lot of pain, but I didn't take anything. I finally fell back to sleep, and when I woke up again, I was in a little less pain. My body reacts very badly to opioids. So I decided to just take Celebrex and Tylenol, today.

I did two rounds of my exercises and I walked 30 minutes in the park, with my walker. I don't really put weight on the walker, but I am so much more confident when I have it. I'm really afraid of falling. 

My walking is pretty terrible, but by watching a video tape, I have finally figured out what my pt meant by I'm not pushing off. On a TM, I look pretty normal, but on the street, It looks like I'm dragging around a log. It feels to me like I'm pushing off, but its more like I'm dragging around a log. I got a little better when I concentrated on feeling the pushing off in my toes and concentrated on the heel plant.

Week 2: Day 8 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

 Week 2, Day 8 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

The only pain reliever that I took yesterday was Celebrex. It is akin to ibuprofen. I woke up today in a little bit of pain. If I wasn't going to PT, I wouldn't have taken anything, but since I have my first PT outside my home, I took a stronger pain medication in the morning.

I didn't do any exercises at all at PT, but my therapist sent me home with some exercises and told me to do them at home. He encouraged me to do them a lot, but not to over do it. That is pretty funny.

I put in the work when I got home and my knee was really swollen. I was exhausted and took a nap, but I did the workout again when I woke up.

Day 7 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

 6/6/2023 Tuesday

I felt incredibly clear headed when I woke up, because I didn't take pain medication last night. When I opened my eyes, I didn't feel any pain, but when I started to move around, there was a little bit pain. Nothing I couldn't handle.

Day 7 was my first follow-up appointment. The doc took off the big bandage. I thought that there would be staples or stiches to remove, but there was nothing to remove. Evidently, the wound is glued together. I still can't see it. It is covered by steri strips which will evidently peel off at some time. The Doc, also, called in another pain medication. I hope that I do better with it.

It was along drive to the doctor's office. I was little worn out by it, so I didn't do much, besides some exercises, when I got home.

Day 6 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

Despite all my efforts, I was still constipated in the morning. I was in some pain last night, but I didn't take any pain medications this morning, because not only does it make me nauseous but obviously it is making me constipated. The quicker that I can get off of the stuff the better. I increased my dosage of Sinokot last night and I took two magnesiums on an empty stomach in the morning. Even after coffee, nothing happened. I really didn't want to have to do it, but I had to take a stimulant suppository. Nothing happened, so I called my doctor. His office suggested an enema. Ugh... In the end, everything got moving, but too much. I need to ask the Doc for a different pain medication.

The PT was supposed to show up at the house yesterday, but he didn't. No call, no nothing. I've got some questions, so its a good thing I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow.

On Day 6 June gloom was in full effect, weatherwise, and my mood matched it. I was sick of dealing with the effects of the pain medication and annoyed that the PT didn't show up or bother to call.

I nice thing to happen was that some friends brought us a delicious dinner of pork chops, potatoes and green beans. They even included dessert. It was delicious and a welcome respite for my hubby.

I'm done dealing with the pain medication, so no medication before bed. I'll see how it goes.

Day 5 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

I woke up at about 5:30 AM in some pain. I got up, popped a pill, and the pain subsided pretty quickly. I still haven't been able to go to the bathroom, despite taking all kinds of stuff to make it happen. I'm taking Magnesium Citrate, a prescription stool softener, and yesterday I added Senokot. Nothing is happening, and I'm getting concerned.

I was given two exercise by my PT to do. One was to tense my quad muscle. He told me that at some point, i would be able to lift my leg. When I did the tensing exercise this morning, my leg popped up. I couldn't believe it. I was pretty excited. I also did my leg bend exercise and increased the range of motion between my coins to 8 3/4 inches. I've already done these two exercises once. I plan to do them one more time before bed.

I walked on the TM for 10 minutes at .8 speed and level 1 elevation. I iced afterwards, but I did feel a tight afterwards. there were some weird, sporadic pains during the walk

Day 4 Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

I woke up this morning feeling better than I had since I had the surgery. I felt very clear headed. I had very little pain. I could walk a tiny bit better and I was able to increase the distance between my coins to 7 3/4 inches. I also took a walk down the street (about 20 feet) with my walker, and I used the muscle stimulator on my quad.